Nanostructures having high performance thermoelectric properties

US8729381B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Peidong Yang · Somerville, US
• Arunava Majumdar · Menlo Park, US
• Allon Hochbaum · Berkeley, US
• Renkun Chen · San Diego, US
• Raul Diaz Delgado · Berkeley, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 21, 2008
• Grant date: May 20, 2014
• Expiry date: Aug 17, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H10N10/855

Abstract

The invention provides for a nanostructure, or an array of such nanostructures, each comprising a rough surface, and a doped or undoped semiconductor. The nanostructure is an one-dimensional (1-D) nanostructure, such a nanowire, or a two-dimensional (2-D) nanostructure. The nanostructure can be placed between two electrodes and used for thermoelectric power generation or thermoelectric cooling.